Performance of different provenances and of the local population of the Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D Don) in northern Spain

S Espinel, A Aragonés and E Ritter

CIMA, Apartado 46, 01080 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Abstract - The performances of 3 Pinus radiata provenances, composed of different subprovenances, and of the local population were compared in a completely randomized design in a 4-year trial at Onyi Mountain (Basque country, northern Spain). Significant differences between populations were observed for the growth characteristics. The Monterey population showed the best performance, although a considerable degree of variation among subprovenances was present. Unfavorable climatical conditions in the winter of 1992/1993 caused high mortality rates in the provenances of Monterey and Cambria, while the Año Nuevo population and the local population were less affected. Based on the comparison of growth characteristics, mortality and morphological characters, Año Nuevo seems to be the possible origin of the local Basque population.